Loading device for bottle washers



Aug. 3, 1954 J. P. HEIL ET AL 2,635,358

' LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO/ENZQS.

Aug. 3, 1954 J. P. HElL ET AL 8 ,358

LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS Filed Feb. 12, 949

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIIIHHIIV lqrrolewzws'.

Aug. 3, 1954 J. P. HElL ETAL LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS Filed Feb 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 will Aug. 3, 1954 J. P. HEIL ET AL 2,685,358

LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS Filed Feb. 12, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 nov 1 J 3 j, I-E+ E r-:59 l 3g :5 LL? g- 1954 Y J. P. HEIL ET AL 2,685,358

LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS Filed Feb. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOENEVJ.

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES ATET FFICE LOADING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE WASHERS ware Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,012

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in loading devices for bottle washers or the like.

In bottle washing machines heretofore available it has been standard practice to load by hand. This has been done by lifting the bottles to be Washed from cases placed at the front of the machine and by placing said bottles on the main table conveyor of the machine. The main table conveyor serves to move the bottles inwardly, in an upright position, toward the tilting .mechanism and the latter serves to feed the bottles into the bottle carrier pockets. In order to insure feeding of the bottles into the tilting mechanism in a proper transversely spaced relationship it has heretofore been common practice to use transversely spaced guide plates which project outwardly from the tilting mechanism and between which the bottles are adapted to be moved by the main table conveyor.

In conventional machines, as the bottles are beingmoved inwardly by the main table conveyor there is a tendency for said bottles to arch or bridge across in front of the guide plates to cause a jam. This, of course, results in interruption of the feed to the machine.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved loader for bottle washers or the like which is adapted for use in delivering bottles from an automatic case unloader located remotely from the bottle washer and which elimihates the manual loading operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved loader for bottle washers which is so constructed that jamming of the bottles on the main table conveyor is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loader as above described wherein there is a feed conveyor for delivering bottles in single file from a remote point, said feed conveyor being arranged to discharge said bottles onto the main table conveyor in random fashion, and there being means for causing proper distribution of said bottles on the main table conveyor to provide for proper delivery between all of the guide plates.

A further object of the invention isto provide an apparatus of the class described having means responsive to a break in the continuity of the feed of bottles on the feed conveyor for controlling the operation of the bottle washer.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described wherein the means for controlling the operation of the washer includes a circuit having a first switch actuated by an-armplaced in the path of the bottles on the feed conveyor and also includes a time delay relay which actuates a second switch after said first switch has been closed a predetermined length of time due to a break of predetermined length in the line of bottles on the feed conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the class described wherein the control circuit includes means for maintaining the power supply to the washer drive motor unbroken after said time delay relay switch has been opened and until the bottle tilting mechanism of the washer assumes a predetermined position.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described having a pair of diverging guide or bailie plates positioned over opposite corner portions of the main table conveyor to provide restricted access from the feed conveyor to said main table conveyor whereby jamming of the bottles in front of the divider plates is prevented.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class described additional means whereby jamming of the bottles in front of the divider plates may be prevented by having means for causing limited swinging or vibrating movement of the divider plates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle loading mechanism which is strong and durable, efficient in operation, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved loading device for bottle washers, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein are shown two embodiments of the invention, and wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective front view of the preferred form of the improved bottle loading mechanism showing it associated with a bottle washing machine, and showing bottles being handled thereby, certain of the bottles being broken away to better show the construction of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved bottle loading machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the improved machine also showing a portion of the bottle tilting mechanism;

Fig. i is a side view of the improved bottle loading machine and bottle tilting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control circuit;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view showing an additional means for preventing jamming;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line l-l of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numerals 9 and I indicate a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically extending frame members which are adapted to be operatively connected to corresponding frame members on the front end of a conventional bottle washing machine. The members 9 and II! are suitably connected to rovide the proper support and to maintain their proper respective positions. A pair of spaced, horizontally extending, parallel rollers I I and I2 are fixed respectively to a pair of shafts I3 and 54, the ends of which are suitably journalled in the frame members 9 and II].

Extending around the rollers I! and I2 is an endless main table conveyor i which may be made of wire mesh or any other suitable flexible material. The conveyor I 5 extends substantially the entire distance between the frame members 9 and I0. Between the rollers II and I2 the upper extent of the conveyor I5 travels across a suitable supporting table 34, as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft I4 is provided with a sprocket I6 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which may be connected to a suitable source of power such as an electric motor I I, the latter being provided with a suitable gear reduction unit i8. The motor I'I' drives the conveyor I5 in the direction indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Suitable idler rollers, such as the axially fixed roller I9 (see Fig. 4) and the axially movable roller 2l1may be provided to maintain the desired tension on the conveyor I5.

Journalled at the front end of the frame member 9 on an axis which is in substantially the same horizontal plane as, but at right angles to the shaft I3 is a short shaft 2!. The shaft 2i has a sprocket 22 fixed thereto, around which a relatively narrow conveyor belt 23 extends. The conveyor belt 23 is preferably made of metal and extends transversely of the machine and beyond the frame member It to a remote loading point. The conveyor 23 is driven in the direction indicated by any suitable means. From the drawings it is apparent that the upper extent of the conveyor 23 is adjacent the upper extent of the conveyor I5 and in substantially the same plane.

Extending transversely between the frame members 9 and I0 is an elongated horizontal plate 24. The plate 24 is supported with one edge portion engaging the underside of the conveyor 23 and with the other edge positioned adjacent the conveyor I5 and slightly forwardly of the axis of the roller II. The plate 24 may form part of an angle member as shown in Fig. 4.

Extending transversely between the frame members 9 and Ill and fixed at its ends thereto is a horizontal elongated plate 25. The plate 25 is positioned adjacent the forward end of the upper extent of the conveyor I5 with the upper surface of said plate slightly below the plane of the upper surface of the conveyor I5.

Spaced above the conveyor l5 and supported at each end by the frame members 9 and I0 through suitable brackets 26 and 21 is a transversely extending horizontal shaft 28. A plurality of equally spaced vertical divider plates 29 are positioned above the rear end portion of the upper extent of the conveyor E5. The divider plates are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the outer diameter of the bottles to be handled by the machine. The divider plates 29 are substantially L-shaped in outline, as shown in Fig. 4, with upper portions apertured to receive the shaft 28. At their rear edges the divider plates 29 are formed with downwardly extending portions 39 which terminate in an inverted T- shaped flange 3I (see Fig. 4) The flanges 3| all rest on the upper surface of the plate 25. Positioned on top of the flanges 3I and extending horizontally forwardly between the divider plates 29 toward the conveyor I5 are rectangular plates 32. The plates 32 and the flanges 3i are fixed to the plate 25 by screws 33 extending therethrough. The plates 32 are positioned with their upper surfaces in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the conveyor I5 as shown in Fig. 4.

The outermost divider plate 29, on each side of the machine, is elongated and extends forwardly to the plate 24, on which the forward ends of said elongated portions are supported as at 35 and 36 (see Fig. 2). A suitable guide rail 31 is mounted along the outer edge of the feed conveyor 23, and said guide rail curves inwardly across the conveyor 23 to connect with the forward end of the elongated divider plate adjacent the frame member 9 as at 38.

Fixed at one end to the elongated divider plate 29 which is adjacent the frame member 9, at a point intermediate the length of said divider plate, and fixed at the other end to the guide rail 31, is a vertical baffle late 39 which extends diagonally over the upper extent of the conveyor I5, over the plate 24 and over the feed conveyor 23, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The plate 39 may be supported intermediate its length on the plate 24, as at 40.

A second vertical bafile member includes an oblique part M which is connected at one end to the elongated outermost divider plate which is adjacent the frame member I0 at a point intermediate the length of said divider plate. The baille part 4| extends forwardly and inwardly over the conveyor I5 toward the feed conveyor, and may be fixed adjacent its innermost portion to the plate 24 as at 42. The bafile member includes a portion 43 extending outwardly longitudinally of the inner edge of the feed conveyor 23 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the portion 43 serves as a guide rail in the same manner as the guide rail 3! on the opposite side of the feed conveyor 23.

The disposition and length of the plates 33 and 4| may be varied for machines of various sizes in accordance with requirements. Experience has shown that satisfactory operation results when the dimensions A and D (see Fig. 2) are approximately equal to three times the outer diameter of the bottles which the machine is designed to handle. The distance B in such a case may be approximately equal to five or six diameters, whereas the distance C may be approximately equal to three diameters.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the improved bottle loading machine is incorporated in a single unit with a bottle tilting mechanism 43. Since the bottle tilting mechanism does not form a part of this invention, it will not be described in detail. It should be mentioned, hov ever, that the tilting mechanism 53 is fixed to a shaft 44 which is suitably journalled at its ends in the frame members 9 and Ill. The shaft 44 is suitably driven by the main drive motor of the normal position through anangle of about 90 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and is then returned to its normal position by reverse rotation.

Fixed to the end of the shaft 44 which projects outwardly from the frame member 9 is a cam 45. Mounted on the outside of the frame member 9-below the cam 45 is an electrical switch 46. The switch 46 has an upwardly projecting spring loaded cam following arm 41 which terminates in a roller 48. The roller 48 is maintained in contact with the edge surface of the cam. The switch 46 has a pair of contacts which are closed when the tilting mechanism 43 and the cam 45 are in the positions shown in Figs. 1,3 and 4, which is the position assumed by the parts before tilting of bottles takes place. However, when the tilting mechanism is rotated 90 in a clockwise direction the shape of the cam 45 permits the cam following arm 41 to move upwardly to cause the contacts of the switch 46 to open. The purpose of this will become apparent as the description progresses.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an electrical switch 49 is mounted on the front of the guide rail 31 adjacent the frame member ID. The switch 49 is provided with an arm 50 which is mounted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane. The arm 59 is spring urged toward the position of Fig. 2 and may be moved by bottles, as indicated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 2, to the retracted position of Fig. 1 wherein it is out of the path of the bottles. The switch 49 has a pair of contacts which are openwhen the arm 50 is in retracted position and are closedwhen said arm is swung to the position of Fig. 2.

The electrical circuit Fig. 5 shows an electrical control circuit-which regulates the operation of the main drive motor 5| of the bottle washing machine, the. latter being operated in conjunction with the improved bottle loading mechanism. A normally open triple pole, solenoid operated switch. 52 connects the motor 5| with a source of.220 volt 3 phase electric current. The switch 52 has a solenoid coil 53. The electricalcontrol circuit also includes normally closed solenoid actuated time delay switch 54, and a normally open solenoid actuated switch 55. noid coil 56, and the switch 55 has a pair of solenoid coils 51 and 58. Connected in series with the coil 58 is a resistance 59. The resistance 59 reduces the strength of the coil 58 to a point wherein it is not strong enough to close the contacts of the switch 55, but it is strong enough to hold said contacts closed once they have been drawn closed by the coil 57.

A manually operated switch 60 is connected to one side of a source of 110 Volt electric current and is connected in. series with the solenoid coil 53 and with the contacts of the switch 55 to the other side of the 110 volt source, as shown in Fig. 5. The solenoid coil 56 and the switch 49 are connected in series and are connected across the 110 volt source. The solenoid coil 5! and the contacts of the switch 54 are connected in series and are likewise connected across the 110 volt source. Similarly, the switch 46 and the solenoid coil 58 with the resistance 59, are connected in series and are connected across the 110 volt source, as shownin Fig. 5.

Operation In describing the operation ofthe improved The switch 54 has a solebottle loading machine it will be assumed that the bottle tilting mechanismand the cam 45 are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and that at the start there are no bottles on either the feed conveyor 23 or the main table conveyor l5. With the parts so arranged, the switches 45 and 49 are closed and the switches 54 and are open. Movement of the feed conveyor 23 and the main table conveyor I5 is started in the direction indicated in the drawings.

Bottles which are loaded onto the feed conveyor 23 at the remote loading point, either manually or by automatic case unloaders, are conveyed toward the main table conveyor l5. As the bottles pass the switch 49 they swing the arm 59 to its retracted position of Fig. l and open the contacts of said switch. This in turn deenergizes the coil 56 and closes the contacts of the time delay relay switch 54. Closing of the contacts of the switch 54 energizes the coil 51 of the switch 55, and this coil then pulls the contacts of the switch 55 closed to prepare the circuit for operation when the switch 59 is thereafter closed manually.

After the bottles have passed the arm 59 they thereafter slidingly' engage the obliquely extending vertical plate 39 and are squeezed off of said conveyor into the plate 24. Bottles following behind on the conveyor 23 push the bottles ahead of them off of the plate 24 and onto the main table conveyor l5. Some of the bottles move off the conveyor 23 before reaching the plate 39. Bottles are thus crowded ofi of the conveyor 23 and onto the conveyor l5 automatically. The bottles then move rearwardly on the conveyor I5 which provides a table area on which the bottles can move at random to occupy the full width of the conveyor 5 as they move toward the divider plates 29. Upon reaching the divider plates 29, the bottles move therebetween and are guided by said plates in straight lines toward the bottle tilting mechanism 43. Bottles continue to crowd onto the main table conveyor, and since no bottles are being handled by the bottle tilting mechanism because it is not yet operating, the main table conveyor fills up as shown in Fig. 1. Whenever bottles are prevented from moving along either of the conveyors 23 or 5 the conveyor continues to move and slides under said bottles.

Due to the fact that the disposition of the plates 39 and 4| provides only a restricted space, as indicated by the letter E in Fig. 2, through which bottles may move onto the plate 24 and onto the conveyor l5, and also due to the angularity of the plates '39 and 4| with respect to the movement of the conveyors 23 and I5, the bottles will .be moved inwardly along the conveyor l5, and will move between the divider plates 29without jamming or bridging across the front edges of any of said divider plates. This free movement of the bottles is of very great importance to the operation of the improved bottle loading machine and has heretofore not been obtained.

The obliquely extending baille 4|, together with its guide rail portion 45, prevents bottles from leaving the feed conveyor until after they have passed the inner end of the guide rail 43. From that point on bottles will move off of the feed conveyor to crowd bottles which are already on the plate 24 onto the main table conveyor I5. In order to keep the transverse space indicated by C (Fig. 2) filled with bottles, bottles must be constantly crowded into this space. This sidewise movement relieves the back pressure on the bottles which are on other portions of the main 'noid coil 56.

table conveyor, This permits a lateral shifting of all the bottles to enable them to find their places between the divider plates. Thus jamming is effectively prevented. The oblique angle of the baffle 41 tends to direct bottles which are being moved into the space C in a proper direction to fill the spaces between the divider plates on this side of the machine. In addition to the above, the length, angular disposition, and arrangement of the bafile 39 cooperates with the rest of the structure in providing a proper feeding of the bottles and in preventing jamming.

As soon as any bottles have moved the full length of the spaces between divider plates, and into the bottle tilting mechanism 13, the manually controlled switch Gil should be closed. This energizes the coil 53 of the main bottle washing machine motor switch 52 and causes sa-id coil to close the contacts of said switch. This causes the bottle washing machine and the bottle tilting mechanism G3 to begin to operate. After the bottle tilting mechanism 43 has rotated 90 in a clockwise direction to deliver a row of bottles to the bottle washing machine, and after it has returned to the position shown in Fig. 4, another row of bottles moves from between the divider plates 29 onto the bottle tilting mechanism 43.

The feed conveyor 23 is moved at a speed which would deliver more bottles per unit of time than the bottle tilting mechanism 43 can remove from the conveyor Hi. It is therefore apparent that the bottles on the conveyor 15 are urged toward the divider plates 29 not only by the conveyor i5, but also by the pressure of other bottles on the conveyor 23. Normally, then, there is a slipping contact between the conveyor 23 and the bottoms of the bottles thereon.

If, for any reason the supply of bottles being fed along the conveyor 23 is interrupted and if the portion of the conveyor 23 adjacent the switch 38 becomes empty of bottles, the arm 50 will swing to its position shown in Fig, 2. This closes the contacts of the switch 49 but no further action takes place immediately. After a predetermined length of time such as, for example, 30 seconds,

the contacts of the time delay relay switch 54 are opened due to the energization of the sole-' Opening of the contacts of the switch 54 causes deenergization of the solenoid coil of the switch 55. If, at the instant of the opening of the switch 56, the bottle tilting mechanism 43 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the contacts of the switch 46 are closed and the coil 53 is energized. The coil 58, when energized, has sufiicient strength to hold the contacts of the switch 55 closed. Therefore, the bottle tilting mechanism will continue to operate, and upon said bottle tilting mechanism being rotated 90 from the position shown in Fig. 4 the contacts of the switch 46 will be opened as previously described. Opening of the contacts of the switch 45 causes deenergization of the coil 58 and opens the contacts of the switch 55. This dcenergizes the coil 53 of the switch 52 and opens the contacts of said switch, thereby shutting off the power to the motor 5! and stopping the operation of the bottle washing machine and of the bottle tilting mechanism 43.

The time delay relay switch 54 is placed in the electrical control circuit in order that the operation of the bottle Washer be stopped only if there is an appreciable break in the continuity ,of the bottles being fed to the improved bottle loading machine by the feed conveyor 23. The

8 length of time delay in the switch 54 may be adjusted to suit requirements.

Upon resumption of feed of the bottles by the conveyor 23, the bottles will move the arm of the switch 49 to its retracted position shown in Fig. 1 to open the contacts of said switch. This deenergizes the solenoid coil 56 and closes the contacts of the switch 54. Closing of the contacts of the switch 54 energizes the solenoid coil 51 of the switch 55, closing the contacts of said switch, and causing energization of the solenoid coil 53 of the switch 52. Energizaticn of the solenoid coil 53 in turn, closes the contacts of the switch 52, and again starts the bottle washing machine and the bottle tilting mechanism 43 in operation in response to operation of the motor 51.

Construction of Figs. 6, 7, and 8 Figs. 6, 7 and 8 disclose a method of preventing jamming or bridging of the bottles in front of the divider plates 29 which may be used alternatively to or in conjunction with the structure of Fig. 2. This is accomplished by pivotally mounting said divider plates at their rear ends, and by vibrating the forward ends of said plates back and forth in a horizontal direction. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the T- shaped flange portions 3| of the divider plates 29 are substantially narrower than the portions 3! of the principal form. The divider plates 29' rest on the transverse plate 25 as shown in Fig. 7. Between each of the portions 3| on the plate 25 is a spacer 6i. Plates 32 are positioned over the spacers BI and are fixed in position by screws 62 which extend through the spacers GI and into the plate 25'. The plates 32 overlap the portions 3! of the divider plates 29 with a sliding engagement.

At their upper ends the divider plates 29 are apertured to receive a shaft 28. Positioned on the shaft 28' between the divider plates 29' are suitable spacing sleeves 63. The shaft 28 is supported at its end by arms 26' and 21. The arm 27 is pivotally mounted on the main frame member H), as at 64, for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The connection of the upper end of the arm 27 with the shaft 28 is of the type which permits slight swinging movement of the arm 27' relative to the shaft 28'. The arm 26' is pivotally supported at its lower end on the main frame member 9 as at 65 (see Fig. 8) and at its upper end is connected to the shaft 28' in the same manner as in the arm 21'.

The arm 26' is provided adjacent the connection with a pair of outwardly projecting spaced parallel flanges 65. Pivotally mounted on the frame member 9' below the arm 26, as at 61, is an arm 68 which is swingable in a vertical plane. At its upper end the arm 58 rotatably carries a roller 59 which is positioned between the flanges 66, as shown in Fig. 8.

A flanged bearing 10 is mounted on the outside of the frame member 9' forwardly of the arm 26'. Journalled in the bearing H1 is a transverse "shaft "H which extends outwardly from the bearing 19, and which also extends through the frame member 9 as shown in Fig. '7. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft H is an eccentric cam member 12 which is slidably encircled by an annular cam follower 13. The cam follower i3 is held against axial movement by a pair of plates 14 and 15 fixed to the cam 72 on opposite sides of the follower 13. The follower 13 is formed with a radially projecting boss 16 which is threaded to receive an adjustable bolt 1! having a lock nut '18 thereon; The

Operation of structure of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 In operation, rotation of the sprocket 80 causes rotation of the shaft H and of the eccentric cam 12. This imparts a substantially reclprcatory motion to the bolt H which, in turn, causes the arm or lever 68 to swing back and forth on the pivot 81. This movement of the lever 68 causes the roller 69 to alternately raise and lower the flanges 66 as said roller travels in its arcuate swinging path. Since the lower end of the arm 26' and its pivotal mounting are substantially a bell crank lever arrangement, raising and lowering of the flanges 66 will impart asubstantial horizontal reciprocatory movement to the upper end of the arm 26' and, in turn, to the shaft 28'. Horizontally reciprocatory movement of the shaft 28 imparts a like movement to the forward ends of the divider plates 29'. Since the divider plates 29' are not rigidly mounted on the plate reciprocation of the forward portions of said plates becomes a swinging movement in a horizontal plane about their rear ends. Normally, this swinging movement is limited in extent and may, if desired, be limited to a horizontal vibrating movement.

By reason of the continual horizontal reciprocatory movement of the forward edges of the divider plates 29', bottles are prevented from jamming or bridging across in front, of said divider plates. It is, of course, intended that the control switch feature heretofore described be used in the improved loader in conjunction with the vibratory divider plates.

It is apparent that by providing a means for preventingthe jamming of bottles in front of the divider plates, a bottle loading machine of high efiiciency is made possible, wherein the bottles move smoothly toward and between the divider plates and into the bottle tilting mechanism. By providing an electrical control circuit which is responsive to the continuity of the feed of bottles on the conveyor 23, the bottle tilting mechanism and the bottle washing machine are prevented from operating when no bottles are being supplied by the conveyor 23. This prevents loss of efficiency or trouble. By reason of the cam and the switch it the bottle washing machine and the bottle tilting mechanism are kept running until the bottle tilting mechanism is rotated to a position 90 clockwise from that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the tilting mechanism is in this rotated position, there is no tendency for bottles to be tipped oif of the plates 32. The bottles on the plates 32 are thereby kept upright at all times.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as will come within the scope of theclaims.

What we claim is:

1 In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like, a relatively wide main conveyor, a feed conveyor movable from a remote location .to said 10 veyor in a position to transfer bottles to said main conveyor, said bottle transferring section having a length suflicient to permit transfer of a plurality of bottles simultaneously, said main conveyor being movable in a direction away from said bottle transferring section of the feed conveyor, a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending divider plates positioned over a portion of the main conveyor and toward which said main conveyor moves, said divider plates having outer edges spaced from said bottle transferring part of the feed conveyor to provide a table area on said main conveyor on which bottles diverted from said feed conveyor may move at random before reaching saiddivider plates,

bafiiing means positioned to prevent bottles from leaving the feed conveyor until after they have travelled transversely inwardly a substantial distancerelativeto the width of the main conveyor and additional bafliing means defining the inner end of said bottle transferring section and overlapping said main and feed conveyors for diverting bottles from said bottle transferring section laterally toward said main conveyor, said addi 7 main conveyor being movable in a direction away positioned over said main conveyor and extending obliquely toward that side of the main conveyor at which the feed conveyor enters, said guiding means being positioned for engagement by bottles on the table area of said main conveyor.

3. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like, a relatively wide main conveyor for delivering bottles tothe bottle washing machine; means for removing bottles from the main conveyor; a feed conveyor movable transversely adjacent said main conveyor'for delivering bottles thereto, said main conveyor being movable in a direction away from said feed conveyor; a plurality of horizontallyspaced vertical divider plates positioned over a portion of the main conveyor and toward which the main conveyor moves, said divider plates having forward edges spaced from said feed conveyor to provide a table area on said main conveyor on which bottles delivered by said feed conveyor may move at random before reaching the divider plates; and a pair of spaced baffle plates positioned over the main conveyor and extending-from' points intermediate the widthof the main conveyor and adjacent the feed conveyor'indiverging relationship toward the divider plates and toward the outer edges of the main conveyor, one of said baflle plates having aportion extending over the feed conveyor to divert bottles therefrom onto the main conveyor between said baffle plates, said feed conveyor having a delivery rate greater than the rate of removal of bottles from the main conveyor; and both of said conveyors being constructed of material which permits slipping engagement of said conveyors with the bottles thereon when said bottles are prevented from moving therewith.

4. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like, a relatively wide main conveyor for delivering bottles to the bottle washing machine; means for removing bottles from the main conveyor; a feed conveyor movable transversely adjacent said main conveyor for delivering bottles thereto, said main conveyor being movable in a direction away from said feed conveyor; a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical divider plates positioned over a portion of the main conveyor and toward which the main conveyor moves, said divider plates having forward edges spaced from said feed conveyor to provide a table area on said main conveyor on which bottles delivered by said feed conveyor may move at random before reaching the divider plates; and a pair of spaced baffle plates positioned over the main conveyor and extending from points intermediate the width of the main. conveyor and adjacent the feed conveyor in diverging relationship toward the divider plates and toward the outer edges of th main conveyor, at least one of said plates being straight, and one of said baille plates having a portion extending over the feed conveyor to divert bottles therefrom onto the main conveyor between said bafiie plates, said feed conveyor having a delivery rate greater than the rate of removal of bottles from the main conveyor, and both of said conveyors being constructed of material which permits slipping engagement of said conveyors with the bottles thereon when said bottles are prevented from moving therewith.

5. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like: a relatively wide main conveyor; a feed conveyor having a bottle transferring section extending transversely of the main conveyor in a position to transfer bottles to the latter; bafiiing i means positioned to prevent bottles from leaving the feed conveyor until after they have travelled transversely inwardly a substantial distance relative to the width of the main conveyor; and additional baffling means defining the inner end of said bottle transferring section spaced inwardly relative to the width of said main conveyor and overlapping said main and feed conveyors for diverting bottles from said bottle transferring section laterally toward said main conveyor, said additional baiiling means being positioned for engagement by bottles on both the feed conveyor and the main conveyor.

6. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like: a relatively wide main conveyor; a feed conveyor having a bottle transferring section extending transversely of the main conveyor in a position to transfer bottles to the latter; a first baffle extending along one side of the feed conveyor in a position to prevent bottles from leaving the feed conveyor until after they have travelled transversely inwardly a substantial distance relative to the width of the main conveyor; a second baiile connected to the inner end of said first baffle and extending obliquely outwardly over said main conveyor, said second bafiie being positioned for engagement by bottles on the main conveyor; and a third bafiie defining the inner end of said bottle transferring section and spaced inwardly relativ to the width of said main conveyor and overlapping said main and feed conveyors for diverting bottles from said bottle transferring section laterally toward said main conveyor, said third baiiie being positioned for engagement by bottles on both the feed conveyor and the main conveyor.

'7. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like: a relatively wide horizontally disposed conveyor for moving standing bottles positioned at random thereon toward th machine, a pinrality of laterally spaced flat members positioned edgewise over a portion of said conveyor and having upright end edges toward which said conveyor moves, said edges being exposed to contact with the approaching bottles, the spaces between said flat members forming channels each of a width to receive one bottl at a time, said fiat members being mounted for swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane to dislodge bottles which might jam against said exposed upright edges befor entering said channels, and means for causing said swinging movement of said flat members.

8. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like: a relatively wide horizontally disposed conveyor for moving standing bottles positioned at random thereon toward the machine, a plurality of laterally spaced flat members positioned edgewise over a portion of said conveyor and having upright edges toward which said conveyor moves, said edges being exposed to contact with the approaching bottles, the spaces between said flat members forming channels each of a width to receive one bottle at a time, said flat members being mounted for oscillatory swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane to dislodge bottles which might jam against said exposed upright edges before entering said channels, and means for causing said oscillatory swinging movement of said flat members.

9. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like; a relatively wide horizontally disposed conveyor for moving standing bottles positioned at random thereon toward the machine, a plurality of laterally spaced flat members positioned edgewise over a portion of said conveyor and having upright end edges toward which said conveyor moves, said edges being exposed to contact with the approachin bottles, the spaces between said fiat members forming channels each of a width to receive one bottle at a time; a shaft supported in a position where it extends transversely above said conveyor, said flat members being connected to said shaft for swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane, and means for causing movement of said shaft with resulting movement of said flat members to dislodge bottles which might jam against said exposed upright edges before entering said channels.

10. In a loader for bottle washing machines or the like: a relatively wide horizontally disposed conveyor for moving standing bottles positioned at random thereon toward the machine, a plurality of laterally spaced flat members positioned edgewis over a portion of said conveyor and having upright end edges toward which said conveyor moves, said edges being exposed to contact with the approaching bottles, the spaces between said flat members forming channels each of a width to receive one bottle at a time; a shaft supported in a position where it extends transversely above said conveyor, said flat members being connected to said shaft for swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane, and cam operated means for causing movement of 13 said shaft with resulting movement of said flat members to dislodge bottles which might jam against said exposed upright edges before entering said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 530,583 Dumke Dec. 11, 1894 804,459 Ellingwood Nov. 14, 1905 Number Marvin Dec. 26, 1950 

